Please note: Dr. Alden accepts insurance if he participates with your plan. Additionally, if Dr. Alden does not participate with your insurance plan, Dr. Alden’s office is frequently able to obtain pre-authorization from your insurance plan based on his uniqueness of his specialty. We will contact your insurance company to understand your benefits and additionally submit for you. You will enjoy the luxury and benefit of academic medicine in a top rated concierge environment without the hassle of long hospital waiting room times and paperwork. Most policies reimburse patients for most of the cost of surgery. Our surgical coordinator will help you with a quote.

Patients and medical professionals from America and around the world seek out Dr. Dmitri Alden’s specialized best in class treatments and services including his expert surgical management of the patient’s condition.

Patients referred to Dr. Alden have access to a vast array of specialists who are some of the best in their field in the country (and possibly in the world).

Neuro-endocrine cancer has many faces. Its presentation varies based on location of the original (primary) tumor. Despite a high variety of pathology and locations, these neuro-endocrine cancer and carcinoid tumors behave similarly. Most commonly this type of cancer originates in the pancreas, small intestine, or rectum. These original tumors are often small, grow slowly, and consequently rarely cause any local problems in the area they originated from, until they reach a certain size.

Yet, some of these cancer tumors can grow to tremendous proportions, displacing surrounding organs and tissues out of their normal anatomical locations and therefore distorting the normal anatomy.

It is not unusual that the initial impression, based on radiological imaging, is that the tumor cancer invades all surrounding organs and therefore is “unresectable.”

It is unfortunate that many patients are denied a lifesaving curative operation based solely on this one opinion. An inexperienced or unprepared surgical crew could be intimidated facing these massive tumors. However, the truth is that in experienced hands, these tumors could be safely removed and often in a “bloodless” fashion.

The following tests and procedures may be used to discover neuro-endocrine Cancer and Carcinoids:

Complete blood count: A procedure in which a sample of blood is drawn and checked for the following: (1) The number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. (2) The amount of hemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen) in the red blood cells. (3)The portion of the sample made up of red blood cells.

Physical exam and history: An exam of the body to check general signs of health, including checking for signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual. A history of the patient’s health habits and past illnesses and treatments will also be taken.

Blood chemistry studies: A procedure in which a blood sample is checked to measure the amounts of certain substances, such as hormones, released into the blood by organs and tissues in the body. An unusual (higher or lower than normal) amount of a substance can be a sign of disease in the organ or tissue that produces it. The blood sample is checked to see if it contains a hormone produced by carcinoid tumors. This test is used to help diagnose carcinoid syndrome.

Twenty-four-hour urine test: A test in which a urine sample is checked to measure the amounts of certain substances, such as hormones. An unusual (higher or lower than normal) amount of a substance can be a sign of disease in the organ or tissue that produces it. The urine sample is checked to see if it contains a hormone produced by carcinoid tumors. This test is used to help diagnose carcinoid syndrome.

Treatment of neuroendocrine carcinoid tumors usually includes neuro-endocrine cancer surgery. One of the following surgical procedures may be used:

Appendectomy: Removal of the appendix.

Fulguration: Use of an electric current to burn away the tumor using a special tool.

Cryosurgery: A treatment that uses an instrument to freeze and destroy abnormal tissue, such as carcinoma in situ. This type of treatment is also called cryotherapy. The doctor may use ultrasound to guide the instrument. Resection: Surgery to remove part or all of the organ that contains cancer. Resection of the tumor and a small amount of normal tissue around it is called a local excision.

Bowel resection and anastomosis: Removal of the bowel tumor and a small section of healthy bowel on each side. The healthy parts of the bowel are then sewn together (anastomosis). Lymph nodes are removed and checked by a pathologist to see if they contain cancer.

Radiofrequency ablation: The use of a special probe with tiny electrodes that release high-energy radio waves (similar to microwaves) that kill cancer cells. The probe may be inserted through the skin or through an incision (cut) in the abdomen.

Hepatic resection: Surgery to remove part or all of the liver.

Hepatic artery ligation or embolization: A procedure to ligate (tie off) or embolize (block) the hepatic artery, the main blood vessel that brings blood into the liver. Blocking the flow of blood to the liver helps kill cancer cells growing there.

For more information on Neuro-endocrine Cancer and Carcinoids or for a consultation please feel free to contact us: